2027 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Civil Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/general-civil-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general civil engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 56 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general civil engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general civil engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among general civil engineering schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,121 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $74,329. Set against $20,121 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #2 place for general civil engineering. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the general civil engineering program here. General Civil Engineering graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $66,215 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general civil engineering will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,374 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $81,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general civil engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $23,866 to complete the general civil engineering program here. General Civil Engineering graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $73,885 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general civil engineering will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $76,195. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University earned the #6 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $23,420. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $48,423. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,957 in student loans. General Civil Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $78,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,199 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $67,050. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Marshall University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $25,250. General Civil Engineering graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $52,481 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $24,291. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $67,062. That is a strong return on a $24,291 median debt. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology admits about 37% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #11 for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,622 in student loans. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $65,622. Set against $23,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana Tech University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $61,868. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Georgia landed the #13 spot for general civil engineering value this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,744 in student loans. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $73,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,744 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
North Carolina A And T State University placed #14 among the best values for general civil engineering. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $70,474. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University landed the #15 spot for general civil engineering value this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $22,100. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $60,086. Set against $22,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #16 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Students borrow a median of $19,480 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $64,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #17 among the best values for general civil engineering. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $48,847. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $27,500. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $69,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Orleans landed the #19 spot for general civil engineering value this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of New Orleans earn a median of $65,119 early in their careers. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #20 position for value in general civil engineering this year. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $26,824. Early-career general civil engineering graduates make about $38,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #21 for value in general civil engineering this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. General Civil Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. General Civil Engineering graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $58,112 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Memphis landed the #22 spot for general civil engineering value this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the general civil engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $64,780. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value general civil engineering schools. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $20,870. Soon after graduation, general civil engineering degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $63,577. Set against $20,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University came in at #24 for value in general civil engineering this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $13,975. General Civil Engineering graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #25 position for value in general civil engineering this year. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, with out-of-state students paying around $18,512. Typical student debt for general civil engineering graduates is $20,747. General Civil Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $65,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Civil Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general civil engineering value ranking:
Narrow General Civil Engineering Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
